Apparatus for launching torpedoes



Aug. 21, 1928.

H. C. RICHARDSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed Oct. 4, 19 26 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 i lNVE/VTQR H0 Zden C12 ichardson Br a I m r ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1928.

H. c. RICHARDSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES s Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1926 INVENTOR BY M A r-rkwe r Aug. 21, 1928.

H. c. RICHARDSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 4, 1926 OOMAMOP m0 IN IIEN TOR I A 1' TOENE Y Aug. 21, 1928.

H. C. RICHARDSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed Oct. 4, 1926 6 -S e 4 m- N. Q WDZOQUW 25:2; mm P m hx INVEN'raR ATTOEIGE Y mama llllllll l l H. C. RICHARDSON KPPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES IILIIEJ. l rurlinllll H@ Zden C. Ri/ohardson lllllllll Iv Aug. 21, 1928.

H. C. RICHARDSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed Oct. 4, 1926 6 sheet s-sheet e IYOZCZZR, 6. Richardson,

INVENTUI? ma M A 'r-rom/EY' Aug. 21, 1928.

HOLDEN C. RICHARDSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES.

Application filed October 4, 1926. Serial No. 139,396.

ture to damage that might result from the splash caused by the impact of the torpedo with the surface of the water.

A further object is to launch a submarine torpedo from a tube located centrally below the body portion of an aircraft, but above a centrally located float.

A still further object is to provide a means for launching a submarine torpedo singly or in pairs from above the normal water line of the hull of a flying boat.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel arrangement of a control mechanism for discharging a torpedo that will automatically operate a series of stop devices from a master control member operated by the pilot of an aircraft.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists substantially in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speclfication in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a seaplane havng my torpedo launching mechanism incorporated therein,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through my torpedo launching operating mechanism, with parts in elevation and parts broken away,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing a minor detail of construction,

e relative travel of a torpedo as seen from a plane, I

' Figlire 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating t Figure 6 is a similar view showing the relative distances travelled by the seaplane and torpedo from the instant the torpedo leaves Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectionalview on the line 99 of Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a slightly modified form of master control mechanism. i

It might be well to note that a charge equivalent to 20 pounds of pressure either of compressed air or powder gases admitted to the expansion chamber of a torpedo discharge tube will be suflicient to launch a torpedo as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

A plane travelling at a rate of speed of seventy-five miles per hour, and flying at a very low altitude, can discharge a torpedo rearwardly at a relative difference in rate of speed of twenty miles per hour, thus causing the forward velocity of the torpedo to lag behind the aircraft at a rate of speed of twenty miles per hour and thereby not subjecting the aircraft structure to the splash of the torpedo when entering the water, The aircraft may continue to travel forward in advance of the following torpedo in a horizontal path or may immediately take altitude as indicated by the curved line in Figure 6, and start to turn back as soon as the torpedo is free of the aircraft.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to I 6' of the drawings, 1 indicates the body portion of an aircraft to which a centrally located float 3 is connected by struts. A torpedo discharge tube 6, forming a bore for housing and discharging a self-propelled submarine torpedo is connected to the body portion by straps 4 or the like and fairing 5. This tube is preferably constructed from a sheet 8 of light alloy metal joined at the top to flanges o a supporting and guide casting 9, that acts as a guide for a T-shaped guide and suspension lug 11 secured to the top of the torpedo 7.. Its forward end is closed by a spun nose piece 12, forming a chamber 13 forward of the torpedo nose for the reception of the compressed air or powder gases for effecting a discharge. 1

' A. master control member 14, mounted on piston by a valve stem 16.

the forward end of the guide casting 9, comprises a cylinder having a piston 14 operating therein and a needle valve 16 connected to the The needle valve moves against a seat 17 in an end plate of the cylinder and is normally held in a closed position by an expansion spring 32 placed between the piston head and the end of the cylinder opposite to the seat. The piston stem 18 extends through the cylinder end and is connected to an operating rod 20 by an arm 19. Communication between the cylinder of the master control member and the chamber 13 is had through a port 86 that is normally closed by a sliding valve 36 carried by the piston head. The rod 20 that is controlled by the action of the piston operates a stop latch 21, trip latch 22, and propeller chock 24 that are joined together by adjustable connecting rods 26 and 27 and are operated simultaneously by the master control member through rod 20. Stop latch 21 engages the T-lug 11, located above the center of gravity of the torpedo,,

and insures locking the torpedo in the tube against accidental slipping out due 'to rough handling of the aircraft, or when making a steep or-sudden climb. Trip latch 22 kicks over a dog 23 for startin the internally located self-propelled drivlng mechanism of the torpedo. The propeller chock 24: holds the propeller blades from revolving until released.

An air tank or container 28 for storing a charge of compressed air is located in the body of the aircraft and is connected to the master control member 14 by a pipe line 30 from which extends a branch line 29 to the other end of the control member. In the main line and in close proximity to the tank 28 there is placed a reduction or cut-01f valve 34 that is normally kept in a closed position until a maneuver is begun that follows with a discharge of a torpedo at which time the valve is opened by the pilot. The branch line 29 is provided with a three-way valve 31 that remains open so that when valve 34 is opened air will pass through the branch line into the cylinder of the master control member forward of the piston head 39, which combined with the tension of the spring 32 holds the valve 16 seated against the pressure of the air entering through pipe line 30. The valve 31 is provided with a bleed valve 33 that controls theescape of air from the cylinder when it is desired to have the piston function, as

will be hereinafter explained. Valve 31 is operated by a line or rod 35 extending into the cockpit of theaircraft and within easy reach of the pilot.

ile cruising to a point of advantage for an attack the valve 34 is closed preventing the escape of air from the container 28, spring 32 holding the valve 16 closed against its seat prevents accidental operation of the torpedoreleasing mechanism. When the desired point of attack is approached valve 34 is opened permitting the air in the container to flow into the main pipe line 30. -As the valve 31 normally completes the passage through the branch line 29, a portion of the air is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder and combining with the tension of spring 32 holds the valve 16 seated against the pressure of the air in the main line. When it is desired, however, to release the torpedo, the pilot pulls in the rod 35 turning the valve 31 so that communication is completed between that portion of the line 29 connecting the valve with the forward end of the cylinder and the bleed valve 33, that is adjusted so that the air will pass therethrough. As the inflow of air through line 29 is cut off and as the air already in the forward end of the cylinder is permitted to escape, the pressure holding the valve 16 against its seat is reduced. The main supply of air now unseats the valve 16 which pushes the piston forward opening the port 36 and allowing air to pass from the cylinder into the expansion chamber of the discharge tube. The rod 20 is moved forward by the piston causing the stop catch 21 to rise freeing the lug 11 carried by the torpedo. At the same time rods 26 and 27 operate the trip latch 22, that sets into motion the internal mechanism of the torpedo, and the propeller chock, that releases the torpedo propeller. Simultaneously with the release of the restraining devices just mentioned, the compressed air in the chamber 13 ejects the torpedo from the tube 6.

My invention is not limited to the above use, but may also be utilized, with slight alterations in arrangement of parts, in connection with flying boats, as more clearly shown inFigures 7, 8 and 9, in which 50 indicates the torpedo discharge tubes arranged in pairs slightly off center, but in a centrally located This means replaces the master control mem ber 14 and does not require the air container 28, valve 31, and pipe lines 29 and 30. In this modified form a casting 38 for receiving the initial expansion of the ignited powder and for housing a piston 39 is mounted on the guide rail casting 9. The piston is normally held in a rearward position by a spring 40 and when forced forward by the (powder discharge transmits motion to the ro the torpedo releasing mechanism as in the first form of launching device. The casting is provided with a bore 41 for holding a s operating neenasa cartridge case 42 containing a charge of powder sufiicient to supply the expansion gases necessary to discharge the torpedo rearwardly from the torpedo tube. The charge of powder in the cartridge is set off by means of a conventional firing pin 43 that is cocked and fired by a lever 44 of a breech mechanism 45. I

When it is desired to launch a torpedo by a powder-charge a rod 46, connected to the breech lever 44, is operated by the gunner or i pilot, and the torpedo release mechanism is tripped as before, the powder gases entering the space 13 through port 36 forcing the torpedo rearwardly from the discharge tube.

- By my method of launching torpedoes several advantages over present and known methods are obtained; the rearward momentum imparted to the torpedo involves a forward momentum of the aircraft resulting in an increased velocity to the latter. Since the impulse is imparted below the center of gravity of the aircraft, it tends to cause the same to head up, in addition to the climbing efiect resulting normally from releasing a load from the aircraft.

The principal advantage, however, is the ability to launch torpedoes at higher aircraft speeds without subjecting the torpedo to an excessive speed of contact with the water. To this end the relative speeds given are for illustrative purposes only, and I do not desire to be limited to the same, the faster the aircraft can approach, direct and get away, the safer the operation in battle, and these advantages are possible to a greater degree by my method than by previously known methods.

Another advantage over the present methods of launching torpedoes is in the protection afforded the various trip, release and external mechanisms for setting into operation the self-propelling mechanism, from the effects of the weather.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred emodiment of my invention and that minor changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1., In an apparatus for launching a selfpropelled submarine torpedo from an aircraft, a discharge tube, a cylinder having a communication with the tube mounted thereon, a plunger operable within the cylinder, means for operating the plunger, a plurality of restraining means for holdin a torpedo in an unmovable condition within the tube, and means controlled by the lunger for simultaneously releasing the restraining means.

2. In an apparatus for launching a selfpropelled submarine torpedo from an aircraft, a discharge tube, a cylinder mounted thereon and having an inlet port and outlet ports, one of which opens into the discharge tube, a plunger operable within the cylinder, means carried by the plunger for simultaneously opening the inlet port and the port opening into the discharge tube, a plurality of restraining means, andmeans controlled by the plunger for simultaneously releasing the restraining means with the opening of the ports.

8. In an apparatus propelled submarine torpedo from an aircraft, a discharge tube, a control cylinder mounted thereon and having communication therewith, means for securing the torpedo in the tube, means for tripping the internal mechanism of the torpedo, means for preventing premature rotation of the torpedo profor launching a self-.

pellers, all of said means being connected to be operated in unison, a plunger operable in the cylinder for simultaneously operating the restraining means and permitting a force to be exerted against the torpedo for its delivery from the discharge tube.

:rnson. 

